3 June 2011
VCS Assembly News Update 2 June (Issue 65)In this issue:
1. News
2. Dates for Your Diary
3. Funding News
4. Consultations
5. Compact
6. Career Opportunities
7. Important Reminders
Print Version
VCS Assembly News Update 3 June 2011 (161.04KB)
1. News
It's Volunteers Week this week (1st to 7th June)
This is the annual week to celebrate and promote volunteering, and details of events can be found at http://www.volunteersweek.org.uk.
Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership Newsletter Published
Renée Wallace, Partnership Services and Information Officer for Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership has published another newsletter. A copy is attached. For more information about the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership telephone 01743 342169 or visit: www.ShropshireVCS.org.uk
23rd_May_SIP_newsletter_issue_13 (419.21KB)
Connect Seeks Volunteers
Connect is a new inclusion service run by Barnardo's Shropshire Project in partnership with Shropshire Council. The Connect service is a new pilot service for children and young people with additional needs or disabilities which will offer short term support to enable young people to develop the skills and confidence to be able to access leisure activities independently. The project will use a variety of approaches to develop self esteem, promote resilience and
encourage increased independence. By offering a range of group work, 1:1 support and support to individual families, volunteers will help families and young people build on their own strengths and identify suitable recreational activities. The ultimate goal will be to ensure the inclusion of children and young people who may otherwise experience difficulties in accessing leisure opportunities. A volunteer recruitment flyer is attached and it is hoped this will help attract
volunteers interested in this exciting new opportunity to support children and young people in Shropshire. For more information contact Clare Griggs, Children's Services Manager, Barnardo's Shropshire project Tel 01743 248094.
Connect service flyer 4 (405.59KB)
Changes to Shropshire Council's First Point of Contact
During May a new service was launched for new customers wanting to find out about adult social care in Shropshire. Now people are advised to phone a new number 0345-678-9044. A team of specially trained advisers will answer these calls in Shropshire Council's Customer Service Centre and as appropriate complete an assessment form with the customer over the phone. The adviser will be able to establish if the customer may be eligible for social care
support by asking the customer specific questions including their health, mobility, social issues etc. The benefits of this new process will include a quicker decision, greater accessibility (the Customer Service Centre opens extended working hours) and consistency of service for Shropshire. Advisers already take applications for Blue Badges, concessionary travel, welfare benefits checks etc and they will be able to support customers by helping them access other services. Part of
the role of the advisers will be to 'Signpost' customers to external partners and organisations who may be able to offer support in other ways with advisers whenever feasible offering the customer information and other types of support if it appears than they will not qualify for social care support. The team at Shropshire Council would very much welcome input from Voluntary Sector Assembly members, in particular any comments and suggestions about how the
'Signposting' element could be further developed. Please contact me, Sarah Dodds, Email: sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk or telephone 01743 252740 and I will direct comments on behalf of the Assembly.
Government funds for sector support
The government has published its Giving White Paper, setting out plans to boost the giving of both time and money. This includes thirty million pounds for a Local Infrastructure Fund to be administered by the Big Lottery Fund, "to improve support for frontline civil society organisations in England by helping both general and volunteering infrastructure organisations to modernise and improve the relevance of their services". There will also be a ten million
pound Social Action Fund "to support the most promising ideas for growing giving in priority areas in England and boosting levels of engagement over the next two years". See: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/giving-white-paper
Charity SROI report wins government approval
An SROI study that found for every £1 invested in the charity Whizz-Kidz there are £10-£65 in wider benefits. The study has been cited as an example of best practice by Andrew Lansley. The analysis considered the impact of Whizz-Kidz's wheelchair provision scheme on a child's family, their school, and the NHS. See:
http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/8776/charity_sroi_report_wins_government_approval
Income benchmarking tool launched (from VolResource)
A new online application from Civil Society Media allows charities to compare their financial performance to other charities. Using data from the Charity 100 and 250 Index, charities can look at different income streams as well as a breakdown of purpose.
http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/8929/powerful_income_benchmarking_tool_launched
Directory of social firm offerings
A directory of products and services from social firms has been created on http://www.justbuy.org.uk/ Social firms are social enterprises that predominantly employ staff who have a disability, sensory impairment, mental health problem or face some other serious disadvantage when it comes to getting a job. Just Buy aims to encourage business to business as well as direct to
public sales.
Online tool to check people management issues
The employment relations body Acas is promoting its online 'Model Workplace' tool which aims to help businesses identify and resolve problems at work, following a survey of users which found that at a quarter of them risked unwittingly breaching the law and half had used it to revise policies and procedures. The tool requires the Microsoft Silverlight browser plug-in to work, but there isn't any cost. See:
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2806
Community news hubs to be established by Media Trust (from VolResource)
The Media Trust is being funded by the Big Lottery Fund to establish connected news hubs around the UK to support citizen journalism and to help communities and charities get their voices heard. There is also further support for the Community Channel on digital TV, and it looks like the currently dormant Community Newswire distribution channel community should be reactivated soon.
http://www.mediatrust.org/about-media-trust/news/media-trust-announces-new-funding-pledges/
New Publication - Volunteer Management
Skills - Third Sector has issued a Position Statement 'Why volunteer management requires specific skills'. See: http://www.skills-thirdsector.org.uk/
Finding local volunteering options on the move (from VolResource)
Sony and YouthNet are working on a mobile volunteering application that uses YouthNet's volunteering database Do-it. Originally called Greenbook, +U (plus you) is the result of the crowdsourcing project Open Planet Idea, and will match potential volunteers with local projects through geo-location technologies. See:http://www.openplanetideas.com/
New Masters in Civil Society
A new postgraduate degree in civil society has been launched by the sociology department at the University of Leicester. The course is for people considering a career in the non-profit sector and aims to give students an understanding of how charities, social enterprises and advocacy organisations work.
http://www2.le.ac.uk/study/postgrad/taught-campus/sociology/civil
2. Dates for Your Diary
ESF Event - URGENT
Expressions of interest from third sector organisations are invited to attend an ESF event that is being planned for this month (June 2011) to be held in Birmingham. Contact Joe Bubb as soon as possible (by 7th June would be preferable). Contact Joe at Shropshire Council's External Funding Team. Email joe.bubb@shropshire.gov.uk Tel: 01743 252516.
The likely date of the event is 23rd June - due to be confirmed once potential numbers attending are known. The event is free to attend. The draft outline of the event includes:
Aim of the event:
- Information updating
- The big picture - joining up provision/referral mechanisms
- Local authority context and need
- Share/promote subcontracting opportunities with contracted providers?
- Debate around local provision/working with Primes/working together
- Sharing experiences - those who are already in partnerships with Primes
- Networking - how are we working together in our local areas
- How can we influence the future ESF rounds?
- Opportunity for contracted providers to engage with potential subcontractors/existing networks for current and future contracts
Draft Programme:
Update on ESF provision WMEN
SFA ESF provision SFA
JCP Work Programme and ESF provision JCP
NOMS provision NOMS
Q and A panel
Coffee - Networking
Working with prime providers Prime provider
Working with local authorities - influencing local provision LA rep
Q and A panel
LUNCH
NEETS YPLA
Apprenticeships NAS
Community Grants Provider(s)
Future procurement SFA/JCP
Q and A panel
Networking with Primes and Las
Inspire Shropshire Conference
Friday 24th June 2011
This event looks at achieving success in social enterprise and offers a full day programme of workshops, advice surgeries, exhibitors, resources and speakers. It has been organised by South Shropshire Furniture Scheme, Midwest Rural Enterprise, Skillbuilders and the Community Council of Shropshire. The event will take place at Craven Arms Community Centre. Details are available in the attached flyer. For more information email James Cooper via james@furniturescheme.co.uk or call 01584 874922.
Inspire Shropshire Flyer 2011 (241.89KB)
'Are we ready for localism' Conference
Wednesday 29th June 9.30am - 4pm
This conference is being jointly organised by the Community Council of Shropshire and the Association of Local Councils. See attached flyer and more details in the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership Newsletter under 'News' above.
Localism Conference (309.81KB) Localism Conference
Supplementary Information (258.43KB)
Institute for Learning Event
Thursday, 30th June
The IfL is working in partnership with WMCETT to hold a free one-day event for IfL members at the University of Warwick on, entitled IfL and CPD for the future. The event includes interactive workshops looking at different aspects of the use of digital technology and collaborative e-learning, plus gaining Q/ATLS status. There will also be a keynote address by Sue Colquhoun, Head of Professional Status at the IfL and a session on IfL governance from IfL Chair Sue Crowley, plus
chances for one-to-one 'surgery' sessions with IfL national reps, and Anne Schofield, IfL West Midlands Regional Adviser. Free parking, buffet lunch and refreshments will also be provided. Please see the attached flyer for more information. The event is only for IfL members, but suitable for those working in any sector. Please pass this flyer on to relevant colleagues.
IfL event flyer (65.18KB)
VCS Assembly Workshop
Friday 8 July 9:30am to 4pm, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Shrewsbury
I attach an invitation to attend an event on the 8th July. A great deal of change is currently occurring and there are many challenges now facing the sector. The VCS Assembly Board is keen to hold this event to report on the representational work taking place, to provide an opportunity to discuss key issues and to collectively agree priorities. The event will follow on from the Annual Assembly on 7 April and take an action focused approach to preparing the sector for the challenges
ahead. Please attend if you are able.
Invitation VCSA Workshop 8 July 2011 (78.8KB)
Low Carbon Homes Open Day
Saturday 9 July 2011 10am - 5pm
Please find attached details of the Low Carbon Homes Day and renewable energy information event. The Strettons are increasingly becoming known as a low carbon community, with an increasing number of homes installing photo voltaic panels and other measures to make them more energy efficient. Stetton Climate Care offers:
- FREE home energy audits and energy saving advice to people within a six mile radius of Church Stretton
- raises awareness of the increasingly urgent need for people to lead more energy efficient lives
- provides advice and training to newly forming community low carbon groups.
For more details contact Jon Cooke, Chair of Stretton Climate Care. Email: jonann.cooke6@btinternet.com See www.strettonclimatecare.org.uk
Low Carbon Homes Open Day Poster 2011 (3517.21KB)
Hallmarks of an accountable charity
This seminar will explore what a transparent and accountable charity does. It will include speakers from leading charities covering what motivates them to improve accountability and transparency, how they do it, what challenges they face and how they over come them, and what benefits increased transparency and accountability bring. Speakers include: Clare Thomas MBE, Chief Grants Officer at the City Bridge Trust and Loretta Minghella OBE, Director at Christian Aid. Delegates will
hear about what makes an accountable organisation from the perspective of a funder and a charity as well as having the chance to network with other ImpACT Coalition members. The meeting will take place on Tuesday 12 July, 14:00 to 17:00 in central London. To book your place at the seminar, please email Daisy.Bermudez@acevo.org.uk
3. Funding News
External Funding Update - June
Gary Spence of Shropshire Council has issued the External Funding Update for June. A copy is attached below. It includes details on:
- Connecting Shropshire - our new campaign for superfast broadband in Shropshire
- Re:think Energy - financial support for businesses towards Energy Audits and Feasibility Studies that will help identify potential energy efficiency improvements
- Prism Grant Fund - supporting museums that wish to acquire or conserve items of historical industrial, technological and medical importance
- Midlands Business Awards - an awards scheme open to Shropshire businesses
- Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards - ditto
- Shropshire Council Rural Challenge Fund - funding for 'rural' projects that benefit the local economy
- Fast Growth Business Awards - awards scheme for growing 'mid-market' businesses in the UK
- Protecting Playing Fields - Sport England funding to repair or create new sports playing fields
- Heritage Lottery Fund - points of interest
EFU72 June 11 (54.78KB)
Funding news provided by Gary Spence, External Funding Officer at Shropshire Council and the West Midlands European Network.
4. Consultations
Survey on support for social enterprise in children/youth sector
The Social Enterprise Coalition has a new work programme, sharing and supporting best practice social enterprise models in the children and young people's sector. This is part of strategic partnership led by Children England and involving other organisations. To ensure its guidance, events and surgeries meets the needs of social enterprises and voluntary organisations, it has a short survey for those who might benefit (no closing date given).
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CDML2LV
Survey on resources for community energy action
Two member organisations of the new Community Energy Practitioners' Forum (bringing together some leading charities in the field) are developing an online resource of tried-and-tested approaches available to community groups to achieve sustainable energy goals. A survey will help to ensure that this resource is useful, and those completing it go in a draw for some energy saving kit. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B9QFHV3.
5. Compact
Shropshire Compact at Work
Never has there been so much joint activity between Shropshire Council and the VCS Assembly. There are a wide range of groups currently meeting to look at key issues and to develop new ways of working to further strengthen the partnership between sectors. A series of action plans are being developed to ensure the work taking place is focused and that Compact principles such as consultation/engagement, equalities, volunteering and fair funding are fully embedded. Also
running through this activity is the recognition of the diversity of the sector and the needs of small groups as well as larger voluntary organisations. To find out more attend the event taking place on the 8th July (see dates for your diary above).
New Compact Case Study Published
Compact Voice has published a new example of Compact at Work, this time exploring how partners in the Humber sub-region came together to compare and learn from each other's local Compacts. North Lincolnshire, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire came together to gain a unique insight into the current status and future potential of their local Compacts, as well as taking the opportunity to share good practice. The Compact in Action
project allowed them to re-focus attention onto the sub-regions' local Compacts, dig deeper into underlying issues and identify future actions. See: http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/resources/compact-work/comparing-local-compacts
Compact Voice responds to NHS Consultation
The Department of Health recently launched a listening exercise on the proposed modernisation of the NHS. The proposed reforms focus heavily on partnership working, a concept which is at the heart of the Compact. Compact Voice believes that ensuring local Compacts play a vital role in the new proposed health structures is essential, and certain key aspects of the Bill should recognise and make reference to the principles of the Compact. Compact Voice has produced
a response available from:
http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/news/2011/05/24/compact-voice-responds-nhs-listening-exercise
If you would like to become a Compact Champion please email me, Sarah Dodds
sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk or telephone 01743 252740.
Have you got a Compact story? Email mailto:sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk and share it with others.
6. Career Opportunities
Senior Services Manager Health and Social Care, British Red Cross (Reminder)
The British Red Cross is looking for a Senior Services Manager Health and Social Care for Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The post is a permanent position at £32,000 p.a. 35 hrs per week and full details are available on the attached job description and advert. The closing date for applications is 16 June.
More career opportunities are advertised on the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership website. Visit: www.ShropshireVCS.org.uk
7. Important Reminders
News Items
New Elected Member Lead for Shropshire's VCS
Shropshire Council has strengthened its commitment to working with local voluntary and community groups by agreeing a new role for one of its Cabinet members. Councillor Gwilym Butler will take a lead on working with the voluntary and community sector, community engagement and community leadership and governance. See the previous edition of this newsletter for a full press release.
Training needs analysis tool
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/tna.
Updated guide to insurance for charities
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Publications/cc49.aspx.
Code of practice on sharing of personal data
http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/library/Data_Protection/Detailed_specialist_guides/data_sharing_code_of_practice.pdf
Big Society Awards
http://www.number10.gov.uk/bigsocietyawards
New Gift Aid Forms
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/gift-aid-toolkit.htm
Funding
Help with finding a (digital) voice
Seven successful applicants get seed funding of £500 alongside a package of support, including training plus mentoring by media professionals. Closing date 13 June. See: http://www.mediatrust.org/community-voices
Events
Communicating Your Impact Conference
29 June 2011, London
http://www.CharityComms.org.uk/Communicating-Impact
Trustees' Week 2011
This year's event will run from 31st October to 6th November. See Charity Commission news item at: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/News/pr_trustees_2011.aspx.
Wyldwoods Event - Saturday 25 June 5pm - 11pm
See http://www.wyldwoods.co.uk.
Consultations
Call for charities to respond to EU consultation on VAT
Charity Tax Group warns that business respondents want a system that could cost the sector millions in lost 'community exemptions'. See Third Sector news item at:
http://thirdsector.co.uk/news/1071029/Call-charities-respond-EU-consultation-VAT/
Compact
Ensuring meaningful engagement when consulting
Compact Voice has published a draft piece of guidance and has called for feedback. Please have a look at the draft and send any feedback to mailto:compact@compactvoice.org.uk
http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/sites/default/files/meaningful_engagement.pdf
Local Government Group's guidance for councillors
The Local Government Group have published a guide for new councillors, which serves as an introduction to local government and covers the main things a new councillor needs to know. The guidance includes information on the Compact. See:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/26872197
Don't forget to send me any information you wish to share.
With best wishes
Sarah
Sarah Dodds
VCS Assembly Coordinator
Telephone 01743 252740
Email: mailto:sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk
www.2shrop.net/shropvcsassembly